Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Skyhooks & Fargo

I'm postin' 'em as I rip 'em folks. Got this in a thrift store way back in the 80's mixed in with a bunch a progressive albums and I took a chance.

I wasn't overly ecstatic with it, but a guy moved into my apartment complex from Austrailia and told me these guys were gods to many there. So I figured, what the hell, give it another chance. And I did.

Still no sparks flying or anything but as songs started to stick with me and as I payed more attention to the tongue in cheek lyrics, I realised these guys had something!!! I consider this album to be a worthy 70's glam/hard rock album and many of the tunes tucked within have gone onto car-tapes and compilations, especially "the Other Side" and "Horror Movie" which is a hard rocker worthy of Halloween comps.Check out the lyrics for the songs "You Just Lie Me Coz I'm Good In Bed" and "Smartarse Songwriters". I guarantee at least a smile.

This one isn't gonna knock you off your feet (or out of your chair) unless 70's glam does such things, but it's worthy of at least a few listens.

Here's another. I got this done faster than expected because it is really short. Typical RCA Victor length from around this time (1969) at aproximately 23 minutes.

But this folk-rock duo pack a lot into it. That duo is Dean Wilden and Tony Decker from Salt Lake City, Utah; with added guitar and bass by Rick Cunha and Terry Paul of Hearts & Flowers, one of the first (if not the first) country rock groups. But this short record goes beyond the limitations of folk music with a nice bit of psychedelic flourish, much like Chad & Jeremy's two excursions into that tiny genre (the Ark & Of Cabbages & Kings). In fact this album reminds me a lot of the Cabbages and Kings album with its musical imagery and I would have no problem placing a bet that if you liked that album, this would be very enjoyable also! This copy is ripped from my vinyl at 320k and split into individual tracks. Recommended stuff!!!

interesting, I was just thinking about Skyhooks too. I know of them how probably a lot of people outside of Australia do. Iron Maiden's only single that was a cover was a Skyhooks song("Women in Uniform") in 1980 or 81. Not a bad tune, kind of catchy, I think this might be worth a shot. Thanks.

you've taken me back 20 years ago,when i lived in australia,skyhooks my beloved everyone was amazed with them.Do you know the song ''a million dollar riff''?It was written when there sales touched one million dollars if i remember well enough in about one year only from their first album.Second album is ''living in the seventies'' FANTASTIC....

"shirley" Strachan, singer with Skyhooks died a couple years back.(accident, drowned, i think)Was a popular regular on a tv show about home renovations or something. He was a carpenter. I never got into them myself (an aussie), except for a few songs.But, yes, they were BIG here. I think for their irreverence.

Firstly, Skyhooks were, in the early 70's huge here in Australia. Secondly, Horror Movie had nothing to do with Halloween (of very little relevance here), its about the 6:30 news. Thirdly, "Shirl" was killed in a helicopter crash in Queensland, when his chopper, of which he was the pilot, crashed into a hill, a very long way from drowning. Fourthly, correct comments are that he was, by trade, a carpenter and was indeed on a lifestyle programme and the Iron maidem reference is alo correct. Million Dollar Riff, however, was a reference to the deal they had signed with their record company. And, yes, they were irreverent!

SKYHOOKS! I do like this one. It's got a subtle quality that takes a few listens to dig out what's there, but after you do it's all fun for YOU! I think it's at least as good as Lou Reed's Transformer, that being a 70's glitter staple.